Kunene slams NGOs and courts for 'shielding lawbreakers' amid crackdown on illegal buildings and immigration

Acting Johannesburg Mayor, Kenny Kunene, has launched a scathing attack against what he described as increasing interference by NGOs and courts, claiming they are actively obstructing the City's efforts from “air-conditioned offices” to tackle illegal immigration, unauthorised land occupations, and hijacked buildings.

Kunene, who has been spearheading intensified enforcement operations in recent weeks, says city officials are being blocked at every turn by "self-proclaimed human rights defenders" who, according to him, are prioritising the rights of criminals and lawbreakers over the safety and well-being of law-abiding residents.

“There is political and moral will on our side to act decisively,” Kunene said during a site inspection in Marshalltown, Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“But we’re being delayed by endless court applications brought by NGOs, who are more concerned with legal posturing than the lived reality on the ground.”

At the heart of the dispute is Johannesburg’s derelict buildings — many of them illegally occupied — which have become hotspots for criminal activity, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and unregulated immigration.

Kunene argued that these structures are not only dangerous to occupants but also serve as hubs for syndicates that operate outside the bounds of the law.

“Look at Randburg,” Kunene added.

“People were forcefully removed from their homes, and now criminal elements have taken over the area. Drugs are sold on every corner, and our young girls are being trafficked. We cannot continue turning a blind eye while waiting for court decisions,” he said.

Officials insisted they are not acting outside the law but enforcing it — cutting off illegal electricity connections, shutting down unsafe dwellings, and relocating residents where possible.

However, NGOs have often responded by seeking court interdicts to stop these interventions, citing violations of constitutional rights and due process.

Kunene, however, questions the sincerity of these legal challenges.

“These lawyers don’t live in these conditions. They arrive in luxury vehicles, wear cheap suits from malls, and then try to tell us how to run a city. We were elected by the people of Johannesburg, and we are accountable to them — not to activist organisations,” Kunene said.

He argues that court rulings made from “air-conditioned offices” do not reflect the realities city officials face on the ground.

“Let the judges come and see the filth in these buildings. Let them spend a night here before ruling that people must be allowed to stay. Because when fires break out and lives are lost, the same judges turn around and hold the City responsible.”

Kunene remained unapologetic and said “We are doing the right thing, whether some people like it or not. This is about saving lives and restoring dignity to the city. We will enforce the law. We will act. That’s our mandate.”

The raid will continue on Wednesday. Kunene told journalists that this was the beginning of many more operations to come.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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